Results are in from Kodiak’s 50th annual Christmas Bird Count when avian enthusiasts gather each year for one day in December to survey the island’s bird population and send their results to the state and national Audubon Society. An Eagle found on Near Island. Brian Venua/KMXT Sixty-eight eager birders gathered on Dec. 18 to find and document as many birds …

The Island Trails Network recently received a $1 million federal grant for marine debris removal around the Kodiak Archipelago – over five times its normal annual budget. The organization plans to use that funding to both clean larger amounts of debris and recycle more of the plastic they pick up.  Island Trails Network is a nonprofit with a focus on …

Brian Venua/KMXT Food insecurity has risen on Kodiak Island recently. It comes as food stamps and other state-provided aid have been unreliable for months, leaving folks in need to rely on food banks more than normal on the island. Majors Dave and Lola Davis work for the Salvation Army in Kodiak. Dave says the need for food skyrocketed last month.  …

New Year’s Eve is this weekend and many folks may be planning on including fireworks as part of their celebrations. For anyone looking to start 2023 with a bang, Les and Dan’s firework store opened for the holiday earlier this week. Sarah Thompson has worked at the firework store for about 15 years. She said the Harbor Lights boat parade …

Certified nursing assistants are in short supply in Alaska. And the Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center is one of 17 hospitals in the state  trying a new program to pay potential candidates as they train and hire new employees to fill the gap. Providence has 15 open CNA positions between their Providence hospital building. Courtesy of Providence. primary facility and …

Brian Venua/KMXT Kodiak High School students came together to start an open pantry to alleviate food insecurity for their peers. The fundraiser was created as part of a civic engagement course they took to learn about systemic inequality, where they were required to create a service project.  One of the students, John Eaton, a freshman, says everyone pitched an idea …

A highly contagious form of avian influenza was found in a Kodiak brown bear cub. It’s one of only four mammals in Alaska to contract the virus, and the first brown bear to be found with the disease. A deer hunter encountered the cub’s carcass Nov. 26 about half a mile from the road near the Pasagshak State Recreational Site …

Courtesy of USCG/Petty Officer Ian Gray The United States Coast Guard rescued three men and a dog on Monday after their boat ran aground on Esther Island near Whittier. No injuries were reported; however, the status of the vessel is still unknown. According to a press release, the 45-foot F/V Privateer was hitting rocks near the island on Monday as …

Brian Venua/KMXT First Friday Art Walks are back in Kodiak for the first time since the pandemic. This month, local gallery The Frame Shop featured Bruce W. Nelson, a Kodiak painter who specializes in Alaskan scenery. “From the top of the mountain to underwater, y’know, in the ocean,” Nelson said. “Kodiak has non-stop themes that I enjoy painting.” Nelson says …

Kodiak High School’s fire alarm went off twice Friday morning before students started class. Both turned out to be false alarms, but students had to wait outside or in buses for around 30 minutes until the issue was resolved. According to Assistant Principal Matt Bieber, the alarm tripped due to a faulty sensor. After a single reset, students began to …